Apparatus for discharging liquid from wells



NQVQ 9 9 E9260 C. G. CHANDLER APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING LIQUID FROM WELLS Filed March 5,

Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES CHANDLER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR DISGHARGING LIQUID FROM WELLS.

Application filed March 5, 1926. Serial N0. 92,629.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus for discharging liquid from wells -which employs a plurality of valve structures located at different levels, operable in succession to cause the effective flow, thereat, of compressed air or other liquid ejecting fluid. In such apparatus it is usual to have all of the valves initially opened, the air, in taking the path of least resistance, passing through the ports of the upper valve and thereafter carrying with it the liquid that is above the level of these ports. After this head of liquid has been removed, the uppermost valve is closed and a like operation is repeated with the second valve that is below the first, andwhen this second valve is closed, a like operation is repeated with the third valve, and so on, \Vith such apparatus, liquid ejecting air may be employed under lower degree of compression than if the air were required to eject the combined head of liquid inone operation.

My invention has for its object the improvement of mechanism in'this class. In carrying out my invention, I employ two or more vertically ali ed and spaced apart shells, each having at east two bores'therein and preferably three bores. Where the shells are provided with three bores each,

piping which is'in register with one bore in each shell is employed for conveying liquid ejecting fiuid downwardly. Other piping, for conveying liquid upwardly is in register with a second bore in each shell. A valve is provided in the third bore ineach shell, there being ports in each shell connecting the third bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid with the piping that conveys the ejected liquid, and mechanism for closing the upper valve when the lower valve is open and forclosing the lower valve when the upper valve is closed. While both sets of piping are desirably thus in register: with bores in the shells, the invention is not to be thus limited.

The invention will be more fully exv plained by reference to the accompanying drawingin which Fi 1 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic, ilustrating an oil or water well equipped in accordance with-the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, illustrating the preferred form of valve mechanism and contiguous parts; Fig. 3 is a sectional view casing 1.'

this piplng portion.

on line 3--3 of 2; and Fig. 4 is a .de-

veloped view taken of Fig. 3.

The well is usually lined with a casing 1 that is inserted into. the ground to the desired depth. As illustrated, it may be generally on line H assumed that the well is over a thousand feet deep. At the first level, say, five hundred feet below the surface, I provide a shell 2, within the casing 1. At the second level, say one thousand feet below the surface, I provide a second shell 3, within the These shells are thus vertically aligned and spaced apart. Each shell desirably has three bores 4,5 and 6 extending vertically therethrough. The piping for conveying the compressed air or other liquid ejecting fluid downwardly includes a portion 7 connected at its upper end with a compressed air tank 8 that receives airunder pressure from the compressing engine 9, the compressing apparatus serving to maintain the air in said-tank of substantially uniform working pressure. The lower end of the piping portion 7 is screwed into the upper end of the shell 2 whose bore 4 is threaded at its upper end to receive the lower end of Another portion 10 of the piping that conveys the compressed air is screwed, at its upper end, into the lower end of the shell 2, the lower end of the bore 4 in this shell being threaded to receive the upper end of this piping portion. The lower end of the piping portion 10 is screwed into the upper end of the shell 3 whose bore 4 is threaded, at its upper end, to receive the lower end of this piplng portion. Another portion 11 of the piping that conveys the compressed air is screwed, at its upper end, into the lower end of the shell 3, the lower end of the bore 4, in this shell, being threaded to receive the upperv upper end of the box 12. The bores 4 of the two shells, the interior of the box ,12, and the bore of the piping .that conveys the compressed air are thus in communication.

The piping for conveying the ejected water or oil' upwardly includes a portion 13 connected at its upper end with a reservoir 14. The lower end-of the piping portion 13 is screwed into the upper end of the shell 2 whose bore 6 is threaded, at its upper end, to receive the lower end of this piping portion. Another portion of the piping that conveys the ejected liquid is screwed, atits upper end, into the lower end of the shell 2, the lower end of the bore 6 in this shell being threaded to receive the upper end of this piping portion. The lower end of the piping portion 15 is screwed into the upper end of the shell 3 whose bore 6 is threaded, at its upper end, to receive the lower end of this piping portion. Another portion 16 of the piping that conveys the ejected liquid is screwed, at its upper end, into the lowerend of the shell 3, the lower end of the bore .6 in this shell being threaded to receive the upper end of this piping portion. The lower end of the piping portion 16 is screwed into the upper end of the box 12. Another portion 17 of the piping that conveys the ejected liquid is screwed, at its upper end, into the bottom of the box 12. The liquid finds entry from the ground into the box 12 through the piping portion 17. The bores 6 of the two shells, the bore of the liquid ejecting piping and the interior of the box 12 are thus in communication with each other.

Air that is forced downwardly through the piping that conveys the compressed air is arranged, by means of the valving mechanism to be described, either to enter the box 12 or to be diverted at the levels of the valves into the liquid ejecting piping whereby the liquid above each valve level and the level of the box may be selectively ejected. The valve mechanism of my invention includes a plunger valve 18 in the bore 5 of each shell. This valve is of such length that it may be adjusted to an open position to open the ports 19 that establish communication between the bores 5 and 6 and the bores 20 that establish communication between the bores 4 and 5, or to a closed position in which all of these ports are closed. The lower end of each bore 5 is desirably sealed by a plug 21. Each valve is provided with a stem 22 passing through a stufling box 23 assembled with the corresponding shell in the bore 5 thereof.

Each stem is provided with a collar 24 fixed thereon and is surrounded by a coiled spring 25 which abuts, at its lower end, upon said collar and presses, at its upper end, against an abutment 26 secured to the liquid ejectingpiping. A wire 27 is secured to each valve stem and is formed with a hook 28, at

its upper end. The springs serve, when free to act, to move the valves to closing positions. When the valves are to be opened,

.the corresponding wires 27 are pulled up- In operating the apparatus, the hooks 28 are caught into the hooks 29 so that all of the valves are initially opened. When the control valve 30 in the air conveying piping is opened, the head of liquid above the ports in the upper valve is ejected. When this head of liquid hasbeen ejected, this valve is closed whereafter the head of liquid above the lower valve is ejected. When this head of liquid has been ejected, the lower valve is closed whereafter the head of liquid above the box 12 is ejected. The mechanism illustrated for adjusting the valves is preferred, but the invention is not to be thus limited.

The piping, by being assembled with the shells, serves to support them in the desired positions' The box 12, the piping, and the valve mechanism may be readily assembled above ground and inserted into the ground as assembled. The apparatus of my invention is very simple and compact and eflicient as compared with apparatus hitherto employed for the same purpose.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an, apparatus for discharging liquid tically aligned and spaced apart shells, each 1 having three bores therein; piping for conveying liquid ejecting fluid downwardly and including a portion between and joined with said shells and in communication with one bore in each shell; other piping for conveying ejected liquid upwardly and including a portion between and joined with said shells and in communication with a second bore in each shell; a valve in the third bore in each shell, there being ports in each shell connecting the third bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid and with the piping that conveys the e ected liquid; and mechanism forcloslng the upper valve when the lower valve is open and for closing the lower valve when the upper valve is closed.

2. In an apparatus for discharging liquid from wells, the combination with two vert1- cally aligned and spaced apart shells, each,

having three bores therein; piping for conveying liquid ejecting fluid downwardly and in register with one bore in each shell; other piping for conveying ejected liquid upwardly and including a portion between and joined with said shells and in communication with a second bore in each shell; a valve in the third bore in each shell, there belng ports in each shell connecting the third bore in such shell with the piping that convcys the liquid ejecting fluid and with the piping that conveys the ejected liquid; and mechanism for closing the upper valve when the lower valve is open and'for closing the lower valve when the upper valve is closed.

3. In an-apparatus for dischargingliquid from wells, the combination with two vertically aligned and spaced apart shells, each having three bores therein; piping for con-g nd bore in each shell; a valve in the third bore in each shell, there being ports in each shell connecting the third bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid and with the piping that conveys the ejected liquid; and mechanism for closing the upper valve when the lower valve is open and for closing the lower valve when the upper valve is closed.

ing

'4. In an apparatus for discharging liquid from wells, the combination with two V61;

tically'aligned and spaced apart shells, each having three bores therein; piping for conveying liquid ejecting fluid downwardly and in register with one bore in each shell; iping for conveying liquid upwardly an in register with a second bore in each shell; "a valve in the third bore in each shell, there bein ports in each shell connecting the thir bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid and with the piping that conveys the ejected liquid; and mechanism for closing the upper valve when the lower valve is open and for closthe lower valve when the upper valve is closed.

5. In an apparatus for discharging liquid from wells, the combination with two vertically aligned and spaced apart shells, each having two bores therein; piping for conports in each shell connecting the latter bore in such shell witlTthe that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid an with the piping that conveys the ejected liquid; and mechanism for closing the u per valve when the lower valve is open an for closing the lower-valve when the upper valve is closed.

6. In' an a paratus' for discharging liquid fromwe'lls, t e combination with two verti cally aligned and spaced apart shells, each having two bores therein; piping for conveying liquid ejecting fluid downwardly; other piping for conveying ejected liquid upwar ly and including a portion between and joined with said shells and in communication with one bore in each shell; a

valve in the other bore in each shell, there being ports in each shell connecting the lat- I ter bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid with the piping that conveys the ejected. liquid; and mechanism for closing the up er valve when the lower valve is open and or closing the lower valve when the upper valve is closed. 7. In an apparatus for discharging liquid from wells, the combination with two ver tically aligned and spaced apart shells, each having two-bores therein; piping for con veying liquid ejecting fluid downwardly; other iping for conveyingejected liquid upwardly and in register with one bore in each shell; a valve in the other how in each shell, there being ports in each shell connecting the latter bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid with the piping that conveys the ejected liquid; and mechanism for closing the uper valve when the lower valve is open and or closing the lower valve when the upper valve is closed.

8. In an ap aratus for discharging liquid from wells, e combination wit two vertically. aligned and spaced apart shells, each having two bores therein; piping for conyeyinghquid ejecting fluid downwardly and m register with one bore in each shell; other iping for conveyin ejected liquid upwar 1 a valve in the ot er bore in each' shell, there being ports in each shell connecting the latter bore in such shell with the piping that conveys the liquid ejecting fluid with the iping that conveys the ejected liquid; and mechanism for closing the uper valve when the lower valve is open and or closing the lower valve when the upper valve is. closed.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

CHARLES G. CHANDLER; 1 

